“I was terrified of the dentist”

Dental anxiety is a serious issue in Ireland, with approximately one in five adults struggling with a fear of the dentist. As a result, issues go untreated and the oral health of patients suffers. With this considered, it’s no surprise that we end up fitting so many full-mouth implants! 

Patrick May is one of many patients who presented at Truly with a very real and very understandable fear of the dentist. We’ve heard countless stories ofpatients being held down as children, crying for the dentist to stop, having teeth pulled without numbing; the list goes on. This is why we’ve worked so hard to create an environment that takes the fear out of dentistry - bright, welcoming interiors, additional sedation options, and most importantly, dentists who care. 

Patrick arrived at Truly as “a grown man terrified of the dentist”, telling us that the hardest part was booking that initial consultation. After getting past this step, Patrick was able to meet with Dr Jimmy and get to work on the most important task of all - achieving his dream smile. 

Dental implants can provide patients with a quality of life they may not have previously thought possible. From refusing to get in photographs, avoiding family events and constantly feeling self-conscious, Patrick is now so delighted with his smile he’s back in with us, grinning ear to ear while filming a testimonial to encourage more patients! 

“I’d seen a testimonial”  

As dentists, we can insist til we’re blue in the face that patients have nothing to worry about when coming to see us, but no one reassures quite like someone who’s completed their treatment and lived to tell the tale.

Hearing from a patient like Patrick, who had his own struggles with the dentist but has now completed his treatment and is living a happier life as a result is so impactful, and hopefully will encourage more patients to take the first step on their own journey towards a dream smile.

Acknowledging the importance of online testimonials, Patrick said: 

“I'd seen a testimonial of someone that was similar to me with the same issues.

It was just an Instagram post, and that just changed everything. They had the exact same procedures I had, and it just went, if they can do it, I can do it. And that's really the only reason I came into this testimonial. I wouldn't be a big fan of being on the screen, but I wanted to encourage others”.

Seeing a patient who was once terrified of the dentist, now on the other side of a life-changing treatment and sitting in front of the camera to encourage others is Truly inspiring.

“Will my new teeth look natural?” 

A concern that many people considering implants have is whether their new teeth will look natural. Some patients want a smile so bright it’ll stop traffic, while others want something more subtle; something only their closest friends and family members will notice. 

At Truly, we’re proud to work with Boris Dental Lab to create implants that are hand-painted and completely bespoke. Patients can choose the shade of their teeth, add details like lines, veins and translucence towards the bottom, and even bring in pictures of how their smile used to look so we can recreate this exactly. 

When we asked Patrick if many people had been complimenting his smile, he replied: 

“You'd probably think that I’d want people to comment (on them) all the time, but people don't comment. That's exactly what you want. You don't want people to be going “Aha, Turkey teeth!” I didn't want that.

I wanted a kind of natural look and I think Jimmy was bang on, he didn’t go too bright. They’re the same shape as my original teeth, it’s very hard to tell the difference”.

Addressing individual patients preferences for their smiles, full arch surgeon Dr Jimmy adds: 

“We’re in the business of creating people’s smiles, so it should look exactly how they want”.

Are you struggling with missing or damaged teeth, but reluctant to visit the dentist due to dental anxiety? Considering booking in with us for a free consultation. Truly is a judgement and anxiety-free zone, where we look forward to helping you achieve your smile goals.